Kiwi defender James Musa admits he owes his move to Fulham thanks to REJECTION by the Wellington Phoenix!

The young stopper is now making a career for himself in the best competition in the world after being dumped by the A-League club.

Musa explained to fulhamfc.com: "There is one team from New Zealand [Wellington Phoenix] that plays in the A-League [Australia's top league] and someone I knew got me a trial with them. I did quite well so I was signed as an injury replacement for a couple of weeks and then I did well during that spell which led to a full-time contract for the next season. I was only around 17, 18 then and was there for a season and played three games in the A-League.

"Then I was released, along with a lot of other players, at the end of that season as the owner left so they had to release a lot of players. Then I joined up with the New Zealand Under-20 side and went to the U20 World Cup last year. I played in that where we did alright and came back to New Zealand and just played locally to try and help me get into the Olympic team. I managed to do that and then obviously played in that and I must have done reasonably well as it got me to Fulham!"